Eu Bolsters Iranian Ties Despite U.s. Opposition

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - The World

April 30, 1997

LUXEMBOURG — Ignoring U.S. appeals to isolate Iran, the 15 European Union nations agreed Tuesday to send their ambassadors back to Tehran and urged Iranian leaders to refrain from terrorism. They also issued some diplomatic sanctions but resisted calls from the Clinton administration, human rights groups and Iranian dissidents to drop their policy of ''critical dialogue'' with Tehran. That policy, begun in 1992, involves regular high-level meetings and aims to preserve Europe's economic interests while trying to pressure Iran into improving its human rights record.